Photo by Aaron Burden
It has only been two weeks since I released my last review of Elevation Worship’s Resurrecting! Rather than boring you with some non-newsworthy reports of Elevation Worship’s activities, I will simply move onto my review of Faithful and pretend like I wrote a fabulous introduction, that most of you don’t read anyways.
For those who are interested in my other Elevation Worship reviews, select Hallelujah Here Below, Jesus I Come, Do It Again, Here Again, Yours (Glory and Praise), or O Come to the Altar.
Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site! Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review. I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.
1. What message does the song communicate?
The main thrust of this message is that God is faithful, even when we are faithless.
Verse 1 starts with feelings of despair regarding some unknown scenario. The Chorus declares that God is faithful regardless of our actions. However, He does not promise us a pain-free life. He does not promise to remove all sickness, struggles, and suffering from us in our present, earthly state. He promises to redeem us and may choose to heal us; However, we should also expect to suffer for Christ (1 Peter 4:12-19). An easy correction would be something like “even if you don’t protect me, I’ll praise you”, similar to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s resolve in Daniel 3:16-18.
This song makes correct, biblical statements along the way, such as God’s unchanging nature, He is abundant in His gracious gifts, and His constant presence that does not abandon us
Side Note: To those sensitive to massive repetition, the Bridge repeats six times.
Score: 9/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
These lyrics are Biblically accurate.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Verse 1]
When I felt like the burden was more than I could hold
When the whispers of worry overwhelmed my soul
Elevation Worship opens this song by describing unnamed, unbearable burdens. Based on Chorus, Elevation Worship leans on God’s faithfulness, that He carries their burdens (Matthew 11:28-30).
[Pre-Chorus 1]
You never left me alone
You were there all along
The Bridge identifies God as the identity of “You”. God does not forsake those who are His (Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 118:6, and Hebrews 13:5-6).
[Chorus]
You are faithful
2 Timothy 2:13 tells us that God is faithful, even when we are faithless. God cannot deny Himself.
Why should my heart be afraid?
What can man do to me (Psalm 56:11, Psalm 118:6, and Hebrews 13:6)?
You are faithful
Repeats line 1.
I know You’re not gonna change
Correct, God does not change, in terms of His nature and promises (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8, and James 1:17).
You are faithful, faithful
Essentially repeats line 1.
[Verse 2]
I was down to the wire hoping You’d come through
Then You stepped in the fire like You always do
Elevation Worship’s testimony is that God helped them in their time of need. However, we must understand that God’s response is based on His timing, not ours (2 Peter 3:9).
[Pre-Chorus 2]
How I’m convinced of Your love
Probably an allusion to Romans 5:6-8.
You are more than enough
This speaks to the character and nature of God. In terms of grace, yes, He is more than enough (2 Corinthians 9:8).
[Bridge]
O God, my Father
Reveals the identity of “You”.
How great, great is Your faithfulness
Far too great for our comprehension.
O God, my Father
How great, great is Your faithfulness
O God, my Father
How great, great is Your faithfulness
O God, my Father
How great, great is Your faithfulness
O God, my Father
How great, great is Your faithfulness
O God, my Father
How great, great is Your faithfulness
Repeats lines 1 and 2.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Unbelievers will likely think this song is Christian, given the song’s references to “faith” and “God my Father”. He is faithful to take our burdens and be with us. My concerns about potential “Word of Faith” doctrine are more pronounced for those outside Christians.
Score: 8/10
4. What does this song glorify?
God is glorified through Elevation Worship’s description of His faithfulness, only slightly dulled by concerns over expectations concerning rescue.
Score: 9/10
Closing Comments
Elevation Worship’s Faithful is good overall. It expresses God’s faithfulness to His people, glorifying Him. While following Jesus does not make all suffering go away, others will understand that God’s faithfulness does not depend upon our actions.
Those who disagree with my comments on “Word of Faith” potential could use this song for corporate worship.
Final Score: 9/10
Artist Info
Track: Faithful (listen to the song)
Artist: Elevation Worship
Album: Hallelujah Here Below
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2018
Duration: 5:34
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
*Copyright © 2018 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Updates:
04/08/2022 – Re-reviewed the entire song based on current thinking, significantly raising this song’s score from 3/10 to 9/10, with corporate worship recommendation changed to “Perhaps”. Thanks to Michael Ramsey for letting me know!
09/14/2021 – Per Artist Theology announcement, I expanded the red text to encourage others to study Elevation Worship’s theology.
04/21/2021 – Upon closer examination, I decided that this song deserves a much lower rating, based on its adherence to the “Word of Faith” movement. I significantly lowered its score, from 7/10 to 3/10.
03/24/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement. I increased section 1’s score. This did not affect my overall rating.
09/18/2019 – Commenter pathosbill made a compelling case for God’s faithfulness using 2 Timothy 2:13. I came down hard on Elevation Worship because I believed Verse 1 to be its main pillar to support the rest of the song. This one verse adds another pillar, changing my entire outlook on this review. This drastically increases its score from 3.5/10 to 7/10.
Comments
Michael Ramsey
I don’t really understand the argument against this song. It seems to me like this is one of the better Elevation songs. He is faithful no matter what the circumstances. Isn’t this true ? What does this have to do with “Word of Faith” theology? I don’t see anything saying stuff like “if you believe God will do it”. It is supposed to remind us that he is faithful even when it doesn’t look that in our circumstances. It is kinda like David saying God is Good after his son died ( I think that is Psalms 9).
Vince Wright
Michael,
Thanks for pointing this out! I’ve learned a lot since 2019. I’ve updated this review based on current thinking, significantly raising its score.
-Vince Wright
pathosbill
This review really surprised me because I have really appreciated so many of your other ones (both the thumbs up and the thumbs down ones). As I look at the lyrics, I see that no matter what I am going through, God is faithful. 2 Timothy 2:13: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (Plenty of other Scripture to back that as well.) Scripture doesn’t say, “He is faithful in these certain situations.” He is simply faithful. It is His nature, His character. You said, “Verse 1 is not clear what burdens we are rescued from, which compromises clarity on what God is faithful to.” This is irrelevant. Is God faithful when I need wisdom, but not faithful when I am in sin? No, He is always faithful. I don’t see any claim in the song that God will rescue us from every hardship. It is saying, “No matter the hardship, God is still faithful.” The line “Then You stepped in the fire like You always do” seems to be a reference both to Daniel 3:25 (the fourth one in the fire) and Isaiah 43:1-5 (“when you walk through the fire”), both references to God’s presence in hardship. (The Hebrew young men were rescued, but not before they hit the flames, and with the clear message that God was not required to deliver them.)
I personally wouldn’t hesitate to use this song to declare God’s faithfulness in spite of my weakness. And if you are going to repeat a line over and over, a declaration of the character of God seems a good one to repeat.
Thanks for listening. As always, I appreciate the forum and the thoughtfulness you put into these.
Vince Wright
pathosbill,
Thanks for your thoughts and the candor to which you chose to express them! I appreciate your humble attitude.
You make a compelling argument, especially regarding 2 Timothy 2:13. Even if Verse 1 is ambiguous, God will remain faithful. Period.
After prayerful consideration, I will alter this review when I get a chance. It will require me to re-write much of its content and increase its score.
-Vince Wright
pathosbill
Thanks for prayerfully considering, and for the opportunity to dialogue. I appreciate it!
Vince Wright
pathosbill,
Likewise! I updated it to 7/10.
-Vince Wright
Donna
Hi Vince,
No you haven’t updated it yet it’s now Nov 2021, still remains at a 3, not a 7.
Best,
Donna
Vince Wright
Donna,
Thanks for letting me know! If you check the date and correspond it with my review history, you should notice that I’ve since updated this review based on a closer inspection and observing “Word of Faith” throughout this review. The 7/10 entry was on September 18th, 2019. See entry on April 21st, 2021 in my review history.
If you want to see this earlier review, see https://web.archive.org/web/20200821030902/https://www.thebereantest.com/elevation-worship-faithful. The Wayback machine is a great way to see my earlier editions of reviews before I updated them.
-Vince Wright